Multiple electric outlet



NOV 25, 1952 J. G. SCHNEIDER v 2,619,516

MULTIPLE ELECTRIC OUTLET f Filed July 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 25, 1952 J. Q SCHNEHDER 2,619,516

MULTIPLE ELECTRIC OUTLET Filed July 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 25, 1952 J, G. SCHNEIDER 2,619,516

MULTIPLE ELECTRIC OUTLET Filed July 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IWULTIPLE ELECTRIC OUTLET John G. Schneider, Toledo, Ohio Application July 7, 1948, Serial No. 37,1131

2 Claims. (C1. 173-334) This invention relates to electric current outlets, more particularly multiple connections taps.

This invention has utility in a plug or connector for engaging an outlet and particular utility in engaging the pairs of terminals of a double outlet and in turn supplying a cluster or greater number of outlets for reception of various electric appliance plugs.

An object of this invention is to provide a multiplying connector or multiple electric outlet plug which preferably connects into both pairs of terminals of a double outlet whereby the stability of the connection is increased and the flow of the electric current distributed at and through the outlets thereby reducing the load on any one terminal.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a neat and compact unit designed in attractive forms which may be connected to a double outlet and in turn supply a greater number I" available outlets.

Still another object `of this invention is to provide a multiple outlet providing unit which employes interchangeable elements therein thereby reducing the cost not only in initial tooling but in parts and assembly.

Another object of this invention is'to provide terminals within the unit which rmly grip the coacting terminals or blades of connected plugs to hold the same against accidental. disconnection but permitting ready intentional removal when desired.

And an additional object of said invention is to provide supplemental terminal coacting means aiding the positive grip thereof and take up of any possible looseness through Wear, distortion or the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various detailsI of construction, to combinations of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsk in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a multi-portedoutlet providing plug embodying features of the invention herein; the connector being shown` iny an operative position;

Fig. 2 is a rear e1evauon of the plug of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the plug of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the plug of Fig. 1, with the back closure plate removed, illustrating the interior arrangement of the parts;

Fig. 5 is a view on the'A line V-eV, Fig. 4; n

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a unitembodying the invention and supplying acluster of six outlets;

Fig. 7 is a frontY elevation of a unit embodying the invention and supplying a cluster of nine outlets;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the unit of Fig. 6, with the rear closure plate removed; e

Fig'. 9 is a rear view of the unit of Fig. 7, with theV rear closure plate removed;

Fig. 10 is a' plan view of one of the bus bars and terminal ,providing elements for the unit of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation, from' the left, of the element of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is' a view on the line XII-XII, Fig. 10;v

Fig. 13 is a plan View of one side of a modied four-way outlet embodying features of the invention; l

Fig'. 14 is a side elevation, from the left, of the connector of. Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the opposite side of the unit of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the unit of Fig. 15 with the cover plate removed;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation'of one of the terminal supplying elements of Fig. 16'; and

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of one of the terminal supplying elements of Fig, 8.

In the four outlet unit (Fig. 1), there is provided a housing 20 preferably a molded insulation plastic cupi-shaped shell having outlet face 22 and a skirt 24 surrounding and depending therefromto terminate in rim 26;

The face 22 has four electric' appliance plug coacting areas 28 contoured for appearance as well as furnishing stable seats for the plugs 36 Whose prongs 32 may extend into the housing' interior throughv one'of the pairs of apertures 34.

The housing is'reinforced by av series of integral skeleton ribs therein which ribs also providepositioning means for the electric current conductors as Wellv as seats for a' housing closure plate all of which' ijs hereinafter described in detail.

These ribs in the four' Way outlet include a central'ridge 36 extending across'the underside or' the face portion 22 short of reaching the skirt 24 atY either end. A pair ofy additional ribs 38, 49; are disposed' in spaced.Y parallel relation thereto one on each' side of the central ridge and each connected at one end to opposite sides of the skirt 24 but short of reaching the skirt on their Opposite ends. Thus a pair of U-shaped chambers 42, 44, are defined each encompassing the other.

A pair of like conductor` elements (Figs. 4 and l) are provided to have input and output regions and designed to nest in the chambers 42, 44. Each element includes a substantially rigid U-shaped bus bar with legs 46, 48, and connecting base 50. Two of these like elements are placed in the chambers 42, 44, one in each and in reverse to each other whereby the legs 46 embrace the outer sides of the ribs 38, 40, and the legs 48 embrace the inner sides thereof. Each U-shaped bus bar has an auxiliary intermediate leg 52 electrically connected to and extending inwardly from the bases 50 in such a manner as one of each of these conductors will embrace the opposite sides of the central rib 36.

Attached to each leg 52 are two blades 54, so spaced that when the conductors are in position, these blades will extend therefrom from the housing interior outwardly in a predetermined arrangement to allow engagement with both outlets 55 of a double electric outlet 56 as mounted on a support 58. Thus current input to each bus bar may be taken from both outlets 55 reducing the load on any one terminal thereof and also providing a most substantial mounting of the connector herein when attached to the outlet.

Current output from the bars is provided adjacent each pair of apertures 34. To this end, mounting and spacing blocks or lugs are fixed to each leg 46, 48, centrally of their extent and in turn mount comparatively flexible strips 62 extending in both directions therefrom to provide wings which terminate in free offsets 64 beyond the apertures 34 and also having oiisets 66 beyond the opposite extent of the apertures. The blocks 60 and offsets 64, 66, normally position the strips in substantial parallelism as to the legs 46, 48, a distance somewhat less than the thickness of the usual prongs of an appliance plug 30. This is so that when a prong is inserted through an aperture 34 into the region between the strip 62 and adjacent leg to make electric contact therewith, the strip is iiexed outwardly from its mounting leg and the prong securely gripped therebetween thereby furnishing a good contact at each output terminal.

To strengthen this terminal grip, at least one or^ each pair of the output terminals has a spring disposed between it and seat 10 integrally molded with the housing, the spring urging the wings toward their respective mounting legs. Herein these springs are shown as coil springs and are maintained in position not only by the seats l0 but by flanges 12 formed by turned out portions of the strips 62. Spring position maintenance is completed by rear cover plate 14 nested within the skirt 24 flush with the rim 26 as determined by the ribs. This plate also completes the housing enclosing all the conductor elements except the outer termini of the blades 54 which protrude through suitable openings i6 therein.

To increase the stability of the cover plate mounting, the plate may be provided with one or more lugs 18 nesting in seats 80 formed in the ribs 36, 38, 40, and may or need not be cemented therein as desired. These seats 80 not only afford interlocking means for the cover plate but denne the skeleton rib construction resulting in overall lightness in weight for the unit.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 8, it is apparent how the structure of the four tap unit may readily be enlarged to provide a six tap unit while maintaining all the features of the invention.

To this end a housing 82 has six plug coacting areas 28 each with the plug prong receiving apertures 34. The ribs 36, 38, 40, are lengthened as are the legs 46, 48, of the U-shaped conductor elements and in this construction the blades 54 may be attached directly to the strips 62. This allows space for springs 68 to coact against both plate portions of each pair of output terminals disposed adjacent each pair of apertures 34. The flexible strips 62 are also lengthened, each now having three output regions or seats. A pair of spacer means 60 are used to mount each strip 62 to its supporting leg.

The multiplication of outlet taps may be carried on indefinitely and as a further illustration Figs. 7 and 9 show a nine outlet unit having a suitable housing shell 84 with nine plug coacting areas 28 each with its appliance plug prong receiving apertures 34. This arrangement employs the use of five internal ribs 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94 and the conductor bars are double Us or S-shaped each having major leg portions 96, 98 and |00 with connecting base portions |02, |04. The iiexible strip portions 62 are the same as employed in the six tap unit and springs 68 are provided for each terminal.

Features of this invention are also employed in a smaller compact four tap unit. Housing |06 is provided with cover |08. The housing on its face opposite the cover has plug apertures 34 and the cover also has plug apertures 34 oiiset axially as to each other.

Within the housing is a single skeleton rib H0 and on each side thereof is a bus bar H2. Centrally attached to each bar H2 is a flexible strip ||4 having ear ||6 provided with a screw I |8 for attaching an electric conductor |20 thereto which may enter the housing through cutout region |22. These strips ||4 have free ends providing offsets |24 determining the spacing between the strips and bars the same as hereinbefore described in connection with the connector of Fig. 1. Intermediate the free ends and bar connections, each strip has a double terminal or output region |26 to receive a plug prong from either side of this unit. One spring 68 is provided to coact against each double terminal.

The bus bars ||2 are interchangeable and by this arrangement a four tap unit of compact design is available including the grip terminal features.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of the present invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to those skilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed as limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used in the specification relating to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent:

1. An electric attachment plug adapted to be mounted on a double-outlet and provide at least four outlets therefrom, comprising an insulation housing having a pair of opposing faces, one thereof provided with at least four inlet apertures therethrough while the other is provided with at least four pairs of outlet apertures therethrough, said housing having an internal rib structure, a pair of M-shaped electric conductors within said housing positioned by said ribs to encompass each other so that the inner legs of the M-shaped conductors extend adjacent the inlet apertures while the outer legs of said conductors extend adjacent one of each pair of the outlet apertures, means carried by said outer legs to provide a terminal adjacent each outlet aperture, and prongs extending from each of said inner legs through said inlet apertures for engaging said double outlet.

2. An electric connector comprising an insulation housing, a pair of M-shaped bus bars disposed along a common plane therein, one in reverse position as to the other whereby their extensions parallel each other and provide a plurality of pairs of coacting segments, two pairs of input terminals mounted on one pair of the coacting segments in relative position as to each other so that said connector is adapted to be mounted on a double outlet and electrically engage both double outlet terminals, and output terminal seats provided on the other pairs of coacting segments.

JOHN G. SCHNEIDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numlber Name Date 1,001,035 Hubert Aug. 22, 19'11 1,582,609 Isele Apr. 27, 1926 1,717,836 Conner June 18, 1929 1,831,809 Hertzberg Nov. 17, 1931 1,989,890 Slade Feb. 5, 1935 2,001,990 Tregoning May 21, 1935 2,013,142 Gaynor Sept. 3, 1935 2,054,193 De Mask Sept. 15, 1936 2,162,265 Loomis June 13, 1939 2,222,701 Benander Nov. 26, 1940 2,228,334 Abbott Jan. '14, 1941 2,299,617 Eisenberg Oct. 20, 1942 2,443.367 Aguilar June 15, 1948 2,477,952 Benander Aug. 2, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 389,069 England June 2, 1931 

